My Dream

I'm ready to be a teacher already, at North Elementary Second grade please.

Let me tell you a little story.

When I was 5 years old, I went to Kindergarten orientation, they asked me to draw a stick figure. I had no idea what a stick figure was. After some explaining from my sweet mom, I quickly drew the best stick figure I possibly could. And that, was my very first memory of school. Well, outside of singing "I scream, you scream, we all scream for Ice Cream" in pre-school.

My love for school grew, thanks to my kindergarten teacher Ms. Rugger. I spent two years with Ms. Rugger, and for that I am so very thankful. I have had a great love for school since that day when I was 5 years old. Every year, I would get anxious for the new school year as my parents bought me school supplies. I would pack my school supplies in my backpack and I would take them out everyday and look at them until school started. I would smell my crayons, and make sure they were in perfect order within the little box. I would organize my pencil box and sharpen my pencils. I went everyday to Kindergarten, anxious to see my new best friend Ms. Rugger. I went home with stories about her everyday, and my mom even bought us best friend Micky Mouse necklaces, you know the kind that are a split heart and fit together, because we were the very best friends.

I continued my education, I went to first grade with Mrs. Thorpe, Second Grade with Mrs. Sharp, Third Grade with Mrs. Bowcutt,Fourth Grade with Mrs. Kaufman, and in Fifth Grade I had my first male teacher, Mr. Larson. I enjoyed everyday of school, except the day I had school after school for not completing my homework, and I came sobbing to the car when my mom picked me up. I promise you, I never forgot my homework again.

I knew at an early age that I wanted to be a teacher. I use to tell my mom that I wanted to be an art teacher. It was soon apparent that my art skills were not developing at a rate that I could be a graduate from an art program, but my love for education never subsided.

And here I am, in my 3rd year of college. I go to school everyday to learn how to teach. I just can't wait until the day that I am given the keys to my very own classroom, the day that I receive my first list of students who will be with me through out the day for an entire 8-9 months of their life. I can't wait until the day, that there is a student who might possibly be my best friend, or the one student that says, "You taught me."

And what about Ms. Rugger? She's a principal in Nevada. She recently created a Facebook, and I am so very glad to keep in close touch with her. When I was in 5th grade I had the opportunity to go visit her in Nevada. We still remain close friends, and if necessary I bet she would wear that Mickey Mouse necklace with me again. :)

On the day of my high school graduation, my fifth grade teacher told me that he would wait to retire until I had my teaching license so that I could take over his job. How great that would be.

As I go through college, I imagine what my life as a teacher will be. I always imagine North Elementary. Every time I'm in Evanston, and we drive past North, I tell Jerry, "Man, I just wanna work there." Because I honestly do, I can't imagine being a teacher anywhere else.

I realize that I am being a little unrealistic, but I know that God cares about our hopes and dreams, and wherever I get the chance to be a teacher will be the right place.

Here's to my last 3 semesters in college, I will make it the best, the very best.